ARMED with a bionic ear, night vision goggles and improved transport Westbury's own pet detective is back on the trail for missing cats and dogs.

Tony Hall, 37, of Station Road, set up Petsar, a service to find lost pets, two years ago but gave up after a run of futile searches. Now he has returned and says the service is bigger and better than before and this time he is determined to reunite owners with their missing pets.

He has yet to find any lost pets but said he is determined to carry on providing the service because it is a comfort to worried owners.

"My aim is to do a good job and help people when they are worried. At the very least I want to make them feel they are not on their own," he said.

Anyone who thinks they have lost a pet can call Mr Hall at any time of the day and he will be on the hunt within half an hour. He also helps owners make posters and explore other avenues to find the animals.

As well as the bionic ear he has torches and searchlights and the latest addition to his specialist equipment is a new mountain bike, which he says allows him to reach places not accessible by car.

He also goes out armed with a two-way radio to make sure he is always safe and can relate any new information back to the owners.

Mr Hall first had the idea for the service after he bought his dog Bella for tracking but after she became ill he decided to use his own nose to hunt for missing pets. When business waned he stopped the service but now he has a new job driving for Westbury Link he is able to put more money towards the service so decided to start it up again.

He said: "I got a fair bit of business last time, a lot of cats get lost in the summer because they are looking for somewhere cooler but then they return home."

  • The service is free of charge and covers a radius of 15 miles from Westbury. If you have lost a pet contact Mr Hall on (01373) 301732 or (07816) 472279 or visit www.communigate.co. uk/wilts/petsar